The Art Tote Tutorial

Hayley from Welcome to the Mouse House is back with another great project! Today’s art tote features laminated cotton to make it both durable and easy to clean. We can’t wait to sew one up for the playroom, and we think it would also be a sweet Easter basket. Hayley has done lots of really popular tutorials here at Sew Mama Sew including the Sydney Pinafore and Kipper Capri Pants.

I was sent 1.5 yards of super awesome laminated cottons from Laminates and was told to create anything I want. I mulled over all of the amazing options in my head. Just recently, I had created two projects with laminated cottons that I loved, The Busy Blanket and The Rainy Day Umbrella.

I finally decided on an art tote that my kids could carry from place to place and fill up with all of their markers, pens, scissors, glue and creative goodies. I wanted it big enough to store it all but not cumbersome for them, and I came up with the perfect dimensions.

I am thinking this would also make a fantastic Easter basket or gift bag! Can you just imagine this filled with toys?

For this project, I used 1 yard of the polka dot fabric (with a bit to spare for maybe a Playdoh mat?) and 1/2 yard of the red chevron. How yummy are those colors?

Cutting Guide:(Plus medium to heavy weight interfacing for all pieces.)

2 Circles: diameter of 10 3/8 inches (read more below)

2 Bag Sides: 10 inches high by 33 inches wide

2 Pockets: 5 inches high by 33 wide

1 Bag Handle: 6 inches high by 22 wide

2 Side Accent Pieces: 1 inch high by 2 inches wide

Bias Tape: 33 inches long

The trickiest part of this tutorial is figuring out your circle and your side pieces because it is all math related but it’s easy, I promise.

I simply took a plate and traced the circle. My diameter was 10 3/8 inches (10.375 inches).

You can create the exact same circle size as me OR you can trace your own plate or circular object. In order to figure out how long your side pieces needs to be, you need to find the circumference of your circle because that is how long your side pieces will measure. To figure out the circumference of a circle, you simply use this equation: Diameter x 3.14.

FINAL NOTE: Deborah of Laminates.etsy.com says, “Oilcloth is NOT CPSIA compliant and should never be used for children’s products (bibs! no), and laminated cotton fabric should note: ‘CPSIA approved.’ There are some laminated cottons out there that have not been tested and should not be used for children’s products (I don’t carry any in my store that have not been tested).”